Take me out to the Ballgame!

While Stephen was still on vacation, we took in a Redhawks game in OKC.  We took Andrew with us to keep Samantha company.  After Hideaway pizza, we enjoyed seats right behind the batter box.  It was hot, but we were in the shade and had unlimited drinks...life is good.

God's beauty

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. 

Romans 1:20

Seeing the sunrise this morning reminds me of God's eternal glory. His awesome power.  His love for me, to send a sunrise this beautiful as I was on my way to a funeral.  It showed me that every morning is a new beginning and a new start.  We really are without excuse.  This is sent by God and only He could create a new sunrise every morning. We have to believe in God when He provides us with such splendor!  I literally had to pull my car over to take this picture because it was so beautiful.  

Samantha gets boots!

Just had to show them! More pics to come with her actually wearing them I'm sure!  But they sure are cute and swirly. She loves them!

Vacation 2011

We left Blackwell on Thursday morning June 23, 2011 and ended the day in Memphis Tennessee.  Emily came with us since she and Samantha were already pros at this roadtrip. She had to make it bearable again for Samantha!  We ate at Corkys Bar-B-Q and had their sweet tea and dry rub ribs...YUMMM!!!

The 24th was a drive day! We stopped in Flat Rock North Carolina for the night and stayed at Mountain Lodge. The pool was great for the girls and the sunset was beautiful from our room. 

Up bright and early on the 25th to head to Charlotte, North Carolina to tour Charlotte motor speedway.  We did not take the official tour, but did walk all over the grandstands. Gotta love a good racetrack!

Finally arrived at Litchfield resort at Pawley's Island South Carolina that afternoon and the first thing we did after buying a boogie board for Emily was hit the beach!  It was right outside the place we were staying, we just had to walk past the pool and lazy river to get there.  Bottom left of this picture was the view from our balcony.

June 26th was the official beach day.  We swam on the beach, we walked on the beach and just floated in the ocean.  That evening we went up to Murrell's inlet and ate at Drunken Jacks for seafood.  I had the Mahi Mahi which was wonderful.  Samantha and Emily split the steak and shrimp and Stephen had Crabcake.  YUMMY!

Gettin' our Americana on by touring racetracks and now an aircraft carrier.  The USS Yorktown is parked at Charleston so we drove down and toured it.  Stephen could have spent hours there. Samantha and Emily not so much!  They were great though and we had a good time.

Our last day...time to head home.  Goodbye beach.  Miss you already!

Since we were driving right by it anyway, we stopped at Talladega Superspeedway and took the official tour there. We got to ride around the bottom of the track to see the 33 degree banking. Our van driver told us all kinds of stories about the history of the track. I had forgotten that Davey Allison had died there when his helicopter crashed. Sad memory... Stephen could have talked to that guy all day! It was great to see him enjoy something so much! 

Almost home...good trip...great destination...good to be home.

Best Friends since Pre-school!

Samantha and Kimberlee...

Not always together, but never apart
Not always hanging out, but never on the outs

These 2 girls make me smile.
These 2 girls know what a friend is.
I am so proud of these 2 girls!

P.S. Notice the swatches of color each one has in their hair. That is why they posed for this picture.
Still lovin' these 2 girls!

It just makes me smile!

I don't know why I am blogging this picture. I have already blogged about Samantha's permit and this was taken before that even happened. I guess I am blogging about it because I just love this picture and what it represents.

I let Samantha drive home from Garber the Friday before Memorial day to get some driving experience on the highway before she had to drive for her class. That is the reason why she is in the driver's seat, but not the reason I am blogging about this picture.

We had just finished putting flowers on all our relatives gravesides (one of them is in this picture!). Samantha was with Patsy and I all day helping to sort/pack/ and disperse all these flowers. She was with us while we ate at the local diner on a lunch of fried food and iceberg lettuce salads. She listened to the required telling of the stories that have been passed down for generations. She wrote down names of all the relatives so we could keep better track of how many flowers we needed, and how many needed to be replaced for next year. She did all of this with just the 3 of us and still ended the day with this sweet smile on her face.  That is the reason I am blogging this picture. 

Thank you Samantha for the beautiful young lady you are becoming....inside and out.

This is a memory that will always make me smile. Yes, I'm smiling now!

Permission Granted!!!

Samantha got her permit!!! She didn't even miss a question on her test. All that worry for nothing. I was so proud of her. She handled herself very well, and the whole process was relatively painless! Yay Sam!!

This is just one of those next steps we will be rapidly experiencing together. Wish time would slow down, but yet can't wait to see how it turns out!!


CONGRATS!!

P.S. Also notice the new haircut! She loves it, yet misses the length it was. It'll grow back!